Gator Spring
Jackson County
Summary of Features
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Scale - uknown
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Scenery - excellent
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How Pristine? - completely pristine
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Swimming - no
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Protection - unknown
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Wildlife - very good
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Crowds - some use on warm weekends
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Access - very good, boat only
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Facilities - none
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Safety - fair
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Scuba - yes, lights needed
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Cost - free
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Directions
From U.S. 90 in Marianna, turn north on 71 at the Wal-Mart and go to
Blue Springs Road. Turn right at the big John Deer sign onto Blue Springs
Rd. and go 1.6 miles to Hunter Fish Camp Road. Turn right and go 2/3 mile
down this house-lined road to
the boat ramp on the left, downhill from the road. Put in at boat ramp
and paddle through cypress trees directly into and then across the Mill
Pond to the SE bank, about 150 yards.
For maps, latitude/longitude data, driving directions, satellite imagery,
and topographic representations as well as weather conditions at this spring,
go to Greg Johnson's informative "Florida Springs Database" web site at
the following address: http://www.ThisWaytothe.Net/springs/floridasprings.htm#Florida
Spring Description
This spring is an exposed limestone outcrop at the base of the 30+-foot
bank set into the bluff. The opening is an upside-down v-shaped cleft that
is about 4 feet wide at the bottom and narrows to a point at the top. The
opening extends beneath the surface to the bottom, which is about five
feet deep. Ferns grow on of the rock around the cave. The surface near
the cave was almost completely covered in duckweed, and some eel grass
was also present. No water was visible flowing out of the cave, but the
duckweed does not extend into the cave, suggesting it is pushed out by
the flow. A diver told JF that one can travel--swimming with side-mounted
tanks and lights--about 250 feet into the cave. There is a smaller
cleft a few feet to the left of the main opening, and the bottom was 5-6
feet deep on dates of visit in 2001.
Use/Access
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The spring is easy to reach from the boat ramp, and this portion of Merritt’s
Mill Pond has little development and is very scenic. It is possible to
reach the cave from the headwaters at Marianna Blue Spring three miles
upriver.
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Having no lights, and after reflecting on the name of the spring, the authors
decided not to snorkel into it.
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The cave is popular with scuba divers.
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On dates of visit in 2001, the bottom of the pond was free of exotic elodea
and hydrilla. On previous visits, the entire pond has been choked with
exotics. A boater said that the state had invested $1 million in attempting
to eradicate the exotic plants with herbicide..
Personal Impressions
The authors have not seen anything like Gator Spring in Florida. Nearby
Shangri-La Spring, just below the headwater of Merritt’s Mill Pond, is
about the same size and shape and is also against the limestone bank. However,
the opening to Shangri-La is completely under the water, as is the case
for nearly all springs. Gator Spring is halfway out of the water. Conceivably,
a swimmer or snorkeler could swim directly into it, although lights are
strongly recommended. The spring is a small package, but is very visually
appealing and well worth a visit.
Nearby Springs
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Blue Hole Spring
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Other Merritt's Mill Pond Springs (Shangri-La, Twin Caves, Blue, Hole-in-the-Rock,
Indian Washbasin)
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Baltzell (or Bosel or Bozell) Springs group
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Spring Lake Springs (Black, Double, Gadsen (or Gadsden), Millpond, Springboard)
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Sandbag Spring
Other Nearby Natural Features
Three Rivers State Park
Falling Water State Park
Torreya State Park
Florida Caverns State Park
Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve
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